Now Commenting On:

Lopez pitches inning in return from bruised hand

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Left-hander Javier Lopez made his Cactus League debut Saturday, demonstrating his recovery from a bruised pitching hand.

Lopez, who worked the fifth inning and allowed one run on three singles while striking out two, felt upbeat.

"I definitely felt like it was my first time out there in a while, but it's nice to get that one out of the way," said Lopez, who expressed satisfaction with his ability to throw his offspeed pitches for strikes. "It's on to bigger and better things now."

Lopez, 3-0 with a 2.50 ERA and seven saves in 70 appearances last year, said that he has ample time to sharpen his skills sufficiently by Opening Day. The Giants begin the season April 1 at Los Angeles.

Lopez has continued to play catch with left-hander Madison Bumgarner, whose wicked throw struck him on the bare hand Feb. 19 and caused his injury.

"I gotta get back on that horse and go to work," said Lopez, not realizing how accurate he was with his equine reference to the 6-foot-5, 235-pound Bumgarner. "I can't let the young guy get the best of me yet."

Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.